Deutsche Welle Corrects Article About Gakharia

Yesterday, the English edition of Deutsche Welle published an article regarding Giorgi Gakharia's appointment as Prime Minister of Georgia, calling him a "Moscow man."

A few hours later, Deutsche Welle corrected the article, saying that Gakharia was called so by the opposition. At the same time, the publication writes that the new Prime Minister served as Lufthansa manager and that he publishes statements regarding Georgia's EU and NATO aspirations.

“Giorgi Gakharia, who the opposition previously labeled "Moscow's man," has been appointed the prime minister. He is blamed for orchestrating a violent crackdown against anti-government protesters, many of them youths.

The Georgian parliament on Sunday appointed a controversial figure to become the country's prime minister in a move that has triggered protests in the capital, Tbilisi.

Lawmakers voted 98 to 0 in favor of former Interior Minister, with the opposition — which had previously labeled the new leader as "Moscow's man" — boycotting the vote.

The new head of Georgian government called Russia's actions in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia “occupation”.

As head of government, he confirmed that Georgia is still striving for EU and NATO membership and for deepening relations with the United States. Gakharia, who studied political science in Moscow, said that his country's "occupation" of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is the biggest problem. 20% of the country cannot be used economically.

"The most important component of our security dimension is Georgia’s foreign policy, the country’s pro-Western orientation, and European and Euro-Atlantic integration…The United States is our main strategic partner and there are no limitations in our cooperation," Gakharia said.

From 2008 to 2013, he was a director of business development of the German airline Lufthansa and responsible for Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union countries," reports Deutsche Welle.